Clothesling prop



SePt- 29, 1953 K. s. LA RUSSA 2,653,785

CLOTHESLINE PROP Filed Aug. ll, 1950 Fig.

Karl Stephen LaRussa INVENToR.

Patented Sept. 29,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESLINE PROP Karl Stephen La Russa, EastSt. Louis, Ill.

Application August 11, 1950, Serial No. 178,953

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a device for supporting clothes lines and moreparticularly to an improved telescoping support prop for clothes lines.

An object of this invention is to provide a sup port for clothes linesthat is formed in a plurality of sections in order that the support maybe stored away when in relatively small compass and yet whichtelescoping sections include means for preventing relative motiontherebetween.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel ground engagingmeans so as to readily enable this clothes line prop to be used forsupporting clothes lines When such clothes lines extend over a nishedground surface such as a concrete walk or the like.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision oflocking means for securely holding the separate sections of theinvention in an extended position when such is desired.

Other important objects of the invention reside in the provision of aclothes line prop that is strong, durable, highly eiiicient inoperation, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of beingreadily implaced in its desired position, and which is relativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with various ancillary objects of the invention whichwill become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attainedby this clothes line prop, preferred embodiments of which have beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only,wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the clothes line prop in anoperative position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the clothes line prop shown in itsclosed position, with parts thereof being broken away to show otherparts in section Figure 3 is a perspective View of an embodiment of theinvention for use when the clothes line extends over a finished groundsurface;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken along the planeof line 4 4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail showing the construction of analternative form of locking the telescoping sections together; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of clothes lineengaging means for use in supporting the clothes line.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,the other sections, reference numeral l0, generally designates thelowermost sections, the other sections designated by reference numeralsl2 and I4.

Each of the telescoping sections l0, I2 and I4 are formed with depressedgrooves I8, 2l) and 22 therein so as to prevent relative rotation of oneof the sections with respect to the other sections. Further, thesegrooves permit the sections to be withdrawn in a properly aligned mannerwhen it is desired to position the clothes line prop in an extendedposition.

For holding the telescoping sections in an extended position there isprovided as is shown in Figure cylindrical members 24 which are providedwith end walls 26 and 28 forming stops for the spring pressed pistons 3Gand 32 which are continuously urged outwardly by a coil spring 34. Thepistons 3!) and 32 have projecting lugs 35 and 35 thereon which areadapted to extend through aligned apertures in the telescoping sectionswhen these apertures in these sections are in alignment. Of course, thecylinders 24 are secured in the sections i4 and l2 for interlockingrelationship with the sections I2 and IU respec tively.

Referring now to Figure 5 there will be seen an alternative means forsecuring the sections in the extended relationship, This includes a leafspring 48 which has a projecting lug 42 secured thereon for positioningwithin the apertures as indicated at 44 in the aligned sections of theclothes line prop.

Threadedly secured to the bottom section l0 of the clothes line prop isa ground engaging member which may be conical in shape as it isgenerally designated at 45, This ground engaging member 46 is usedwhenever the surface of the ground over which the clothes line extendsis soft and formed of earth, gravel, or other similar material. However,when the surface over which the clothes line extends is formed of pouredconcrete or other hard material, a ground engaging member generallyindicated by reference numeral 48 is used and such ground engagingmaterial includes a cylindrical member 50 having a threaded collar 52threadedly engaged with the bottom edge of the section l0. A base plate54 having upwardly extending bearing supports 56 and 58 is pivotallysecured to the cylindrical member 50 by means of the pin 60. A rubber orother resilient pad 62 is secured to the bottom surface of the baseplate 54 for resiliently supporting the member 48 and hence the clothesline prop.

The clothes line engaging member 64 is in the form of a cap havingmounted thereon oppositely extending hook portions 56 and 68. Theclothes line prop may be hooked in supporting engagement with theclothes line by merely first positioning the clothes line prop so thatthe clothes line extends parallel to the hooked portions of the hooks 66and 68 and then rotating the clothes line prop so that these extendperpendicular to the direction of the clothes line.

As shown in Figure 6 a further form of clothes line support iscontemplated and this includes a corneal member I threadedly secured bymeans of collar 12 to the section I4, the conical member being providedwith a V-shapedy recess therein generally'designated by referencenumeral 'Il for reception of the clothes line.

When it is desired to secure the clothes line prop in its closedposition so as to have relatively smaller compass it is merely necessaryto threadedly secure over the telescoped sections the 4"cap 16 which isthreadedly secured t9 the SCCOI)` l0, over the threaded portions '18. Asclearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the cap 16 isiprovided with anopening which accommodates the hooks 9i and 58. Thus, when the closedprop is not in' use, it may conveniently be suspended from the line andsecured'by unscrewing the cap 16 f or clamping said line beneath thehooks B6 and 68..

Since from the foregoing the construction and adyanfges of thisclothesline prop are readily apparent, further description is believedto be unnecessary.

However,'since numerous modifications will 4 alents may be readilyresorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what 1s claimed as new is:

A clothesline prop including a plurality of telescopic sections, a capthreadedly mounted on the inner section, a pair of oppositely projectingangular hooks xed on the cap and engageable With a clothesline fordetachably connecting the prop thereto, and a removable'cap forthreading on the upper end of the outer section and engageable with thefirst-named cap for receiving the sections in closed position, thesecond-named cap havin'g`an opening therein accommodating the hooks forsuspending the closed prop from the clothesline 'when said prop is notin use, said second-named cap being engageable beneath the clotheslinefor clamping same beneath the hooks.

' KARL STEPHEN LA RUSSA.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,578,334 McReynolds Mar. 3Q, 1926v 1,661,930. Dietrich Mar.6, 1928I 2,231,531 Epler Feb. 11, 1941V 2,296,043 McClary Sept. 15,1942l 2,449,778 Hyde sept. 21,; 194e` FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 16,057 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1899 744,194 France Apr. 14', 1933757,611 France Dec. 29, 1933

